Could Wenger really risk his last season with Giroud as top striker?

Giroud to hold down his starting place next season! by AH

Arsene Wenger has today confirmed news that will not be too popular amongst Arsenal fans, the news being that Olivier Giroud will not only be remaining with the Gunners next season but that he will also keep his place as Arsenal’s number one striker.

Arsenal fans have been crying out for a replacement since Van Persie left the club back in 2012, since he was the last real top quality striker we had. Even before that special season from the Dutchman, Arsenal had not really had a top striker since the days of the great Thierry Henry.

Since then, every summer and January transfer window has come along and whilst the rumors of Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain have never really been put to bed, Arsene Wenger has always failed to act and the Gunners have been left with nothing more than mediocre strikers.

Today Wenger has confirmed that that trend is set to follow again for at least a little while longer, as Giroud will be remaining as Arsenal’s first port of call in the striker department. When asked if Giroud would start next season as Arsenal’s first choice striker, Wenger told the media: “Yes. I believe that with Danny Welbeck being out now for a long long time, we will be on the road to look for one more striker. After that it’s down to compete. Olivier has strong and weak moments so we have to deal with that. He is a bit unbelievable – he is in cycles. He scores in spells and then sometimes he scores less.”

For Wenger to say “sometimes he [Giroud] scores less” is a bit of an understatement following on from his poor run of form between February and May, however the point does apply to Giroud and his inconsistency is a major issue. Although Danny Welbeck has shone for the Gunners when he manages to get onto the pitch, he too cannot be solely relied on due to constant injury problems, and this leaves Arsenal fans with a rather sour taste in their mouth surrounding the concerns about our strike force.

This summer will undoubtedly lead to the ever consistent rumours of incoming players, including one hundred and one strikers from Benzema to Morata. Whilst Arsenal seem unlikely to make any moves in this department, a top quality striker really would boost the club’s opportunity to win major honours next season. Personally I’d love for Wenger to stick a bid in for Morata who is young, has experience on the biggest stages of club football and is apparently on the lookout for a new club. Another option could even be Everton’s Lukaku who has both strength and pace alongside Premier League experience.

As always I guess it remains a waiting game to see what Wenger does this summer, but based on previous seasons I am not to confident of any major changes. Has Giroud got what it takes to win major honours as Arsenal’s front man? Which striker do you think Wenger should make a move for this summer?

BY Ash